title: Physical training and hypertension have opposite effects on endothelial brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Changes in circulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels were reported in patients with or at risk for cardiovascular diseases associated with endothelial dysfunction, suggesting a link between BDNF and endothelial functionality. However, little is known on cardiovascular BDNF. Our aim was to investigate levels/localization, function, and relevance of cardiovascular BDNF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BDNF levels (western blotting) and localization (immunostaining) were assessed in the heart and aorta from rats with impaired (spontaneously hypertensive rats [SHR]), normal (Wistar Kyoto rats [WKY]), and improved (SHR and WKY subjected to physical training) endothelial function. BDNF levels were also measured in cultured endothelial cells (CECs) subjected to low and high shear stress. The cardiovascular effects of BDNF were investigated in isolated aortic rings and hearts. The results showed high BDNF levels in the heart and aorta, the expression being prominent in endothelial cells as compared with other cell types. Exogenous BDNF vasodilated aortic rings but changed neither coronary flow nor cardiac contractility. Hypertension was associated with decreased expression of BDNF in the endothelium, whereas physical training led to endothelial BDNF up-regulation not only in WKY but also in SHR. Exposure of CECs to high shear stress stimulated BDNF production and secretion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cardiovascular BDNF is mainly localized within endothelial cells in which its expression is dependent on endothelial function. These results open new perspectives on the role of endothelial BDNF in cardiovascular health.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U1093 Cognition, Action et Plasticité Sensorimotrice, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prigent-Tessier
authors.forename: Aurore
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quirié
authors.forename: Katy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maguin-Gaté
authors.forename: Justyna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szostak
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mossiat
authors.forename: Maude
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nappey
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Devaux
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marie
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Demougeot
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013997:Time Factors; D014664:Vasodilation; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left; D017725:Ventricular Pressure
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
keywords: BDNF; Endothelium; Hypertension; Physical training; Shear stress